Newcastle Post That's Entertainment 29 April

the newcastle post

THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT PROUDLY INDEPENDENT

WED 29 APR 2015

Andrew Strong Wendy Matthews Holly Who + Gig Guide

The lexicon of rock and roll

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The Angels

WHAT'S ON Unforgiven

Saturday, 8.30pm • GEM This beautifully shot and uncompromising western, is arguably the best thing Clint Eastwood has ever done - both behind and in front of the camera. Eastwood stars as retired gunslinger William Munny who reluctantly takes on one last job. With even more reluctance he must partner up with a young man and to claim a $1000 reward for killing two cowboys.

Billie Holiday Lady Day: The Master Takes & Singles Out Now

There’s little denying that Billie Holiday is one of the most influential singers, of any genre in this history of popular music, and given that this year marks the 100th anniversary of her birth, this exhaustive collection is the perfect place to start your love affair with the great singer.

This 4CD/79 track set collects highlights from Billie Holiday’s 1933-1944 tenure on Columbia Records and is also accompanied by an incisive essay by Village Voice critic Gary Giddins, which provides context to those unfamiliar with Holiday’s story. Music-wise, though, these tracks sound as vibrant and important as they ever did with standouts being the hauntingly beautiful Billie’s Blues and her stark rendition of the Ray Charles standard Georgia On My Mind.

Wild Card Out Now RATED MA

While Jason Statham largely confines himself to B-movie action fare, there is something about him that lifts the majority of his films out of that glut and into a much more watchable realm. Nick Wild (Statham) is a Las Vegas bodyguard with lethal professional skills and a gambling problem. When a friend is beaten by a sadistic thug, Nick strikes back, only to find out the thug is the son of a mob boss.

Voyager

Saturday, May 23 • Factory Theatre, Marrickville Arguably at the forefront of prog metal in this country, Perth’s Voyager (pictured) are busting out of their home city for a national tour next month to celebrate the launch of the video for their track Seasons of Age, taken from the band’s critically acclaimed 2014 set V. The album has been kicking some serious goals, both here and abroad, and upon its release, V landed in the top ten of practically every media outlets ‘year’s end’ list for 2014. A powerful and melodic feast for the senses, it is a bold and dramatic statement that has caused music wags across the globe to scramble for superlatives.

Joining Voyager throughout the tour, is brooding French alt-heavyweights, Klone who’s latest album, Here Comes The Sun, has just enjoyed an Australian release.

Klone are another French success story having toured with Gojira and Orphaned Land several times, are regulars on Hellfest, France’s biggest metal festival and will be playing Euroblast festival in later in the year.

If you like a bit of power and majesty with your metal, then you’d do well to check out Voyager and Klone.

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BY STEPHEN BISSETT

Time to get the Led out Okay, Led- heads - this one’s for you. One of Australia’s foremost Zeppelin tribute acts is heading our way for what promises to be a night of highoctane classic rock and roll.

The Led Zeppelin Show formed in Sydney in 2001 by founder Andrew Armstrong as a means of communicating his love for all things Led Zeppelin.

The band consists of Grant Ventura, lead vocals and harmonica, Andrew Armstrong, electric and acoustic guitars, Dylan Shield on bass, keyboards and mandolin, and Luke Coiro on drums and percussion. All members of this band have been playing in the music industry in various cover, tribute and original bands for several years.

The Led Zeppelin Show captures the live energy that the original band were famous for, with the band maintaining the authenticity by using the same instruments and sounds that Led Zeppelin used, making it real to the audience, taking you back to the 1970s.

The band plays 90 per cent of the Led Zeppelin catalogue completely live.

Catch the Led Zeppelin Show at Edgeworth Sport and Rec Club on Friday, May 8.

Wednesday April 29

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The Skyline’s the limit Organisers behind beloved boutique festivals the Gum Ball and PigSty in July have launched a brand new two- day event, celebrating Americana music and culture at Dashville, Lower Belford, NSW. The inaugural Dashville Skyline will be held over the October long weekend, Saturday, 3 and Sunday, October 4 and will feature some of Australia’s best local performers in the genre that encompasses stylings of alt- country, pyschedelia, folk and soul.

Along with an Australian contingent, the festival will also feature international Americana artists, songwriter in the round sessions, the best American cuisine, cars and culture alongside the relaxed family atmosphere that Dashville has become popular for.

Tickets for Dashville Skyline will go on sale on Friday, May 1, with a line-up announcement due imminently. Dash-

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ville members will get the usual early bird discount opportunity. For further info, enquiry or to join the members list, visit www.dashville.com.au.

Microwave soundwaves Hot on the heels of their new EP, Microwave Jenny & the Six Song EP, Microwave Jenny, the alter ego of husband and wife musical force Tessa ad Brendon Boney, will be winging their way to Lizotte’s this week Tessa and Brendon relocated to London early 2014 and now spend their time between the UK and Australia. The move was an inspired one, resulting in incredible musical collaborations and adventure, the fruits of which have made their way on to

tation H S n o t l i otel m a H THE

Microwave Jenny & the Six Song EP. In a short space of time, Microwave Jenny has compiled a long list of achievements. In 2011, Brendon won an APRA Professional Development Award, and he and Tessa have worked on soundtracks for Carlotta (ABC1) and the feature film based on the indigenous musical Bran Nue Dae. Their songs have also featured on hit Australian television series’ Gods of Wheat Street and Offspring. Catch Microwave Jenny at Lizotte’s on Thursday, April 3.

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the newcastle post » Wednesday 29 April 2015

SHORTCUTS

3

MUSIC

Wednesday 29 April 2015 « the newcastle post

4

Rock’s A to Z STEPHEN BISSET

T

ake A Long Line, No Exit, After The Rain, Marseille, Shadowboxer, No Secrets, Versailles, Face the Day. There’s no denying that seminal Aussie pub rockers, The Angels, have a litany of hits. An alphabet of them, in fact.

It would make sense then that the band have hit the road on what they are calling the A to Z tour - a run that will see them dig out 26 tracks from their immense catalogue, one for each letter of the alphabet.

Guitarist Rick Brewster told TE that the idea had been kicking around in the camp for a little while and after two barnburning sets at Sydney’s Bridge Hotel, earlier this year to launch the tour, they knew the concept definitely had legs.

“It was an idea that had been suggested to us a little while ago and, like the fools that we are, we agreed to it,” he laughed.

“Those two shows at the Bridge were just fantastic - a real electric atmosphere.

It was full of hardcore fans who sang along with every word and the band was on fire - we can’t wait to take this show to the rest of the country.”

Brewster said that, while they had most of the alphabet covered with their catalogue, there was one letter that had them stumped.

“We were going through it all and we realised that we didn’t have a song for Z, though, so we decided to work up a version of La Grange by ZZ Top, so we are cheating a little bit.”

The track in question, released as a B-side to a brilliant re-working of arguably their best-known tune Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again is arguably better than the original - yet another testament to a band that has still got plenty of life in it yet.

“The funny thing about the song is that after I heard Dave sing it I went back and listened to the original and realised that I never really noticed all of those low gravelly notes that he was doing. He did a bloody good job on it.”

After the Angels’ inimitable frontman Doc Neeson passed away in 2014 after a protracted battle with brain cancer, it seemed that would spell the end of the band as well. However, Newcastle- born Dave Gleeson stepped into the breach and, while he is in no way trying to imitate Neeson’s iconic style and delivery, brings his own brand of formidable rock and roll swagger to proceedings leaving one to wonder if there was anyone aside from

We realised that we didn’t have a song for Z, so we decided to work up a version of La Grange by ZZ Top, so we are cheating a little bit the Screaming Jets frontman that could fill the slot.

“Dave is just an unbelievable frontman,” Brewster said.

“He’s been involved with us for four years now and we couldn’t be happier he’s not just a fill-in, he’s definitely one of us. Right from the start you could see that he was a big fan of the songs and the way he delivers them is just great. He’s probably the best frontman in the country.”

Since Gleeson has joined the fold, the band certainly haven’t looked back,

releasing two stunning records Talk the Talk and Take It To the Streets and undertaking a touring schedule that many bands years their junior would cower at.

“It’s just how we always did it - getting out there on the road as much as possible so that’s what we’re going to keep doing we all still absolutely love playing live so what’s the point of stopping now? So, this year, for example, we did the run with Billy Idol and Cheap Trick for the Day on the Green Shows, we’ve got this tour and after it wraps up, we’re heading over to London, Paris and Sweden to play at the Sweden Rock Festival so there’s still plenty of life left in the Angels yet.”

While they are still obviously willing to doff their caps to their formidable legacy, Brewster said the Angels in 2015 were definitely a band looking forward.

“It’s a really exciting time for us now,” he said.

“We’re having a ball on the road and we’re always writing, writing, writing and planning what we’re doing next we’re working on some new stuff at the moment too, so it’s definitely all happening.”

Catch the Angels when they bring their A to Z tour to Belmont 16s on Friday, May 22. Tickets are $75 (dinner and show) or $40 (show only) and are available via www.16s.com.au

5

MUSIC

STEPHEN BISSET

W

hen Andrew Strong, and his prodigious pipes, signed on to play long- haired and mutton-chopped front man Deco Cuffe in the Alan Parker- helmed film The Commitments - he knew that there was a fair amount of gold in those pages, but never imagined, as a fresh- faced 16- year- old, the film would become the cult behemoth it eventually did let alone being voted the best Irish film of all time.

“It was a pretty amazing experience,” Strong told TE. “No one involved really had any idea about what we had on our hands, especially me. I was 16 at the time and the last thing on my mind was having a film career.

“I was living in America at the time the film was released in the UK so it was quite surreal coming back and seeing the reaction to the film.”

Now, 24 years after the film about the eponymous Irish soul band that

could, and based on a short story by Roddy Doyle, was released, demand for the Commitments and their modern renditions of soul classics from the likes of Wilson Pickett, Sam and Dave, Little Milton and Aretha Franklin is still extremely high - a fact sure to be on full display when Strong brings his Commitments show to Newcastle in celebration of the film’s 22-year milestone.

While the rest of the original Commitments band will not be joining Strong, he said the eight-piece band he will be bringing with him is quite a formidable soul outfit and that all of the Commitments territory will be covered in the show.

While Strong says the film’s success still takes him by surprise, he put it down to the fact that it was full of relatable songs and characters.

“The music was really honest music and they were already classics by the time we got around to doing them.

Also, I really think people, particularly in Ireland, related to the struggle of the band. Ireland was a pretty bleak place to be at the time, the economy was quite screwed up and the working class were trying really hard to make ends meet - I

the newcastle post » Wednesday 29 April 2015

Destination Newcastle

guess the movie just made people feel good, which is what soul is all about.

“It still has this underground cult thing happening which I’ll be forever grateful for. I still have kids come up to

me calling me Deco and they weren’t even born when the film came out.

Catch Andrew Strong at the Burwood Colliery Bowling Club on Saturday, May 9.

MAY ENTERTAINMENT FRI 1ST: THE RUB SAT 2ND: GREG BRYCE (SUPPORT 1927)

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Wednesday 29 April 2015 « the newcastle post

6 SEND YOUR FREE ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS FOR THE GUIDE TO:

stephen.bisset@newcastlepost.com.au or phone 4032 8373

ABSOLUTE THAI, Charlestown: Saturday, Heather and Adam.

ANNA BAY TAVERN: Saturday, Vanderaa Duo. AUSTRALIA HOTEL, Cessnock: Saturday, Purple Hearts.

AVOCA BEACH BOWLING CLUB: Friday, Open Fire; Saturday, D’Lish.

BAR 121: Thursday, Jam Night; Friday, Just Jace; Saturday, Pacefaint.

BAR PETITE: Friday, HP Duo; Saturday, Emily Rose; Sunday, Oli and Soph.

BATEAU BAY HOTEL: Friday, Jaybee Duo. BEACHCOMBER HOTEL: Sunday, Jacinta.

BEAUFORD HOTEL: Saturday, Troy.

BELMONT 16s: Friday, Roadhouse Rockers; Saturday, The Rumour; Sunday, Rich and Famous.

BELMONT BOWLING CLUB: Saturday, FABBA; Sunday, The Jungle Kings.

BELMONT HOTEL: Friday, DJ; Saturday, Arley Black; Sunday, Brenton Williams.

BELMORE HOTEL: Friday, The Levymen; Sataurday, Mark Wells Trio.

BERESFIELD BOWLING CLUB: Friday, Code Red; Saturday, The Years; Sunday, Red Dirt Country band feat Alby Pool.

BLACKBUTT HOTEL: Saturday, The V Dubs; Sunday, Zane Penn.

BRADFORD HOTEL: Friday, The Hepburns; Saturday, Reg Sinclair; Sunday, Jackson Halliday.

BUDGEWOI SOCCER CLUB: Saturday, Cover 2 Cover.

CAMBRIDGE HOTEL: Wednesday, Clint Boge; Saturday, The Punk Rock Hillbilly (Album launch); Tuiesday, Silverstein, Dream on Dreamer, Young Lions, Taken By Force, Fingers Crossed.

CANTON BEACH SPORTS CLUB: Friday, Back 2 Rock; Saturday, Red Sweat.

CARDIFF RSL: Friday, Arley Black; Saturday, Bounce.

CATHO PUB: Sunday, Revolver.

CAVES BEACHSIDE HOTEL: Friday, The Rub; Saturday, 1927, Greg Bryce.

CBD HOTEL: Friday, Makaylie; Saturday, Gen X. CENTRAL CHARLESTOWN LEAGUES CLUB: Friday, Holly Wilson; Saturday, The Andy Show.

CENTRAL HOTEL, Stroud: Saturday, Mark Lee. CESSNOCK HOTEL: Saturday, Formula.

CESSNOCK LEAGUES CLUB: Friday, Bobby C; Saturday, 2 Good Reasons CHARLESTOWN BOWLING CLUB: Friday, Iguana.

CLARENDON HOTEL: Friday, Kylie Jane; Saturday, Lauren Arms.

CLUB AZZURRI: Sunday, Latinova.

CLUB LEMON TREE: Friday, Mardmax; Saturday,

GREG BRYCE MAYFIELD HOTEL FRIDAY, MAY 1

Bryce brings the goods Greg Bryce’s musical career began in the rock industry as a singer-songwriter guitarist with iconic Newcastle band DV8.

This band filled huge auditoriums during the 80’s with their hard-hitting original rock songs penned by Bryce.

Since the mid ‘90s, returning from two and a half years studying and teaching yoga in India, Greg focused most of his energy on acoustic music. His high energy, percussive guitar style draws from many influences including pop, blues, funk,

Stephen Boyd.

COAST HOTEL, Budgewoi: Friday, Trataka.

COLLIERY INN: Friday, Karaoke; Saturday, Pete Sneddon; Sunday, Live Music.

COMMERCIAL HOTEL, Morpeth: Saturday, Paul Watters.

COUNTRY CLUB HOTEL: Friday, Soundabout; Saturday, Howard Shearman, The Hepburns; Sunday, The Piranha Brothers.

CRITERION HOTEL, Carrington: Friday, Howard Shearman; Sunday, Kim. CUSTOMS HOUSE: Wednesday, Matteo Verde; Friday, Lauren Arms; Saturday, Jon T; Sunday, Chris Phillips.

D’ALBORA MARINA: Sunday, Ben Travis.

DENAMN HOTEL: Friday, Jake Folbigg.

DOYALSON RSL: Friday, Venus 2; Saturday, Diversity.

DUKE OF WELLINGTON: Friday, Mark Wells Duo; Saturday,Daniel Arvidson.

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EAST MAITLAND BOWLING CLUB: Friday, Jumpin Jukebox; Saturday, The Cruisers; Sunday, Matt McLaren.

EDGEWORTH SPORT AND REC: Saturday, Karaoke; Sunday, Raff.

EDGEWORTH TAVERN: Friday, Leadbellies; Saturday, Shivoo.

EXCHANGE HOTEL: Friday, 4 Letter Word; Saturday, Flying Mare.

FAMILY HOTEL: Friday, Reg Sinclair.

FIVE SAWYERS: Friday, DJ Sean Andrews; Saturday, DJ perry Carter; Sunday, DJ Matt Meler.

GATESHEAD TAVERN: Friday, Brazillian Brothers; Sunday, 2 Funky.

GEORGE TAVERN: Friday, Mick Jones; Saturday, Mardmax.

GRAND HOTEL: Tuesday, Jazz.

GREAT NORTHERN HOTEL: Friday, The Lamplighters; Saturday, The Sea Gypsies, Manana, In Motion.

GUNYAH HOTEL: Friday, Ngariki; Saturday, Third

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rock, jazz and bluegrass. He also spent 13 years as a member of Jigzag (1997-2009), the highly regarded folk/roots trio and since 2000 Greg has been playing live and recording again with DV8 as well as performing solo acoustic shows. He’s also been performing with Hot Yogis playing original acoustic music . His solo show, as well as featuring his own songs (new and old), mix some of his favourite cover songs from a wide variety of both recent and classic artists and styles.

Creek; Sunday, Jon Schatz.

GWANDALAN BOWLING CLUB: Friday, Earthbound.

HALEKULANI BOWLING CLUB: Friday, Malihini’s Over 30s Nightspot.

HAMILTON STATION HOTEL: Friday/Saturday, Karaoke.

HARRIGANS IRISH PUB: Friday, Twinsanity Trio; Saturday, John Larder, Money for Snuggles; Sunday, Tangled Up. HEXHAM BOWLING CLUB: Saturday, Emil.

HONEYSUCKLE HOTEL: Friday, Crocq Trio; Saturday, tre Soul; Sunday, ty, The Coconut Trio HOTEL DELANY: Wednesday, AdzDrumz; Friday, GenR8, Jon T, DJ Surian; Saturday, Loose Bazooka.

HOTEL JESMOND: Friday, Sundays Record; Saturday, The Levymen.

HOTEL PREMIER: Friday, Bec Willis.

IRON HORSE INN: Saturday, Jake Folbigg.

JEWELLS TAVERN: Saturday, Viagro.

KENT HOTEL: Saturday, Rubber Bullet.

KOTARA BOWLING CLUB: Saturday, Twinsanity Trio.

KING STREET HOTEL: Friday, Cloud Control DJs, Urby; Saturday, Other Ideas; Sunday, Any Given Sunday.

KURRI BOWLING CLUB: Friday, Damien Rounce.

LAKE MACQUARIE TAVERN: Friday, Pete Hibbert; Saturday, Hayden Johns.

LAKE MACQUARIE YACHT CLUB: Saturday, The Bad and the Ugly; Sunday, Bernie Ayrton.

LASS O’GOWRIE HOTEL: Thursday, Creative Creatures Open Mic Night; Friday/Saturday/Sunday,

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7

Live Bands.

LIZOTTE’S NEWCASTLE: Wednesday, Laura Grieve, melody Feder, Jess Holland, Katrina Burgoyne; Thursday, Microwave Jenny, Tegan Wiseman, Hannah Robinson; Friday, Wendy Matthews, Ashleigh Grace; Saturday, Mahalia Barnes; Sunday, Bella Voce LONG JETTY HOTEL: Saturday, Kirsty Larkin; Sunday, Open Mic with Casho.

MAITLAND PARK BOWLING CLUB: Saturday, Maryanne Rex. MARY ELLEN: Friday, Love That Hat; Saturday, Janey’s Alibi Duo; Sunday, Damien.

MARYVILLE TAVERN: Saturday, Troy Kemp.

MATTARA HOTEL: Friday, Kelly Hope; Saturday, Disco and Karaoke.

MAVERICKS ON THE BAY: Friday, Jon Schatz; Saturday, Pistol Pete; Sunday, Karen O’Shea.

MAYFIELD HOTEL: Wednesday, Open Mic Night; Thursday, Karaoke; Friday, Greg Bryce; Saturday, DJ; Sunday, Live Entertainment.

MEREWETHER SURF HOUSE: Sunday, Howard Sherman, Kylie Jane.

MJ FINNEGANS: Friday, DJs; Saturday, Midnight Mojo, DJs. MOONSHADOW CRUISES, Nelson Bay: Saturday, Karen O’Shea.

NAGS HEAD: Saturday, Redline..

NELSON BAY DIGGERS: Friday, The Big Bang; Saturday, KR Duo; Sunday, Jack Dawson.

NORTHERN STAR HOTEL: Friday, Thomas Blake; Saturday, Allon.

NORTHUMBERLAND HOTEL: Saturday, Jim Overend.

OLD PUB, Woy Woy: Saturday, Tres Hombres.

ORANA HOTEL: Friday, Steve Edmonds; Saturday, Live Bands.

PEDENS, Cessnock: Friday, Ian Henry; Saturday, Glam Slam.

PELICAN RSL: Saturday, Live Entertainment.

PIPPI’S AT THE POINT: Friday, Kim, Freetones Duo; Saturday, Hey Poncho; Sunday, Makaylie.

PLOUGH INN: Friday, Chrissie Pearce.

POTTERS BREWERY: Friday, Troy.

PRINCE OF WALES: Friday, Brown Bear and Hooves; Saturday, Bel Enks; Sunday, Sundays Record Duo, Beatnik Deejays.

QUEENS WHARF HOTEL: Friday, AQWA; Saturday, Zak Mason, Jon T, DJ Sean Michael; Sunday, Luke Pittman, Timmy Coffey, Perry Carter.

RACECOURSE HOTEL: Friday, Brooke Harvey; Saturday, Michael Mills.

RAILWAY HOTEL, Cessnock: Saturday, Tiali; Sunday, Katrina Burgoyne.

REGAL HOTEL, Kurri: Saturday, Duplexity.

1927 CAVES BEACH HOTEL SATURDAY, MAY 2

Pop rock legends at Caves It’s been 22 years since the Australian band, 1927, burst onto the scene with their debut album, ISH, selling half a million copies in Australia and producing the hit singles That’s When I Think Of You, If I Could, You’ll Never Know and Compulsory Hero.

ISH remains one of the highest selling debut albums ever by an Australian band to this day.

Now the story continues with the release of their new album Generation-I - a beautifully

RIVER ROYAL, Morpeth: Friday, Troy Kemp.

ROYAL CROWN: Saturday, Matt Semmens; Sunday, The Milestones.

ROYAL FEDERAL: Friday, Tres Hombre; Saturday, The Nick Raschke Duo. ROYAL HOTEL, Denman: Saturday, Full Throttle.

ROYAL HOTEL, Singleton: Sunday, Tiali.

ROYAL INN, Waratah: Saturday, Kim. RUTHERFORD HOTEL: Saturday, Zac and Ben. SALAMANDER SHORES: Friday, Damien.

SEVEN SEAS: Friday, The Rockwells; Saturday, Mick Boogaard.

SHAFT TAVERN: Friday, Moonlight Drive.

SHOAL BAY RESORT: Saturday, Howard Shearman SHORTLAND HOTEL: Friday, Zane Penn.

SOLDIERS POINT BOWLING CLUB: Saturday, Deborah Sinclair.

STAG AND HUNTER: Friday/Saturday, Live Entertainment.

STAR HOTEL: Friday, DJ Jonathan; Saturday, DJ

crafted album and once again showcases the songwriting talents of frontman Erik Weideman and the band with a thoughtful and mature selection of new songs that fans old and new will love.

Fans have recently reacquainted themselves with the band having been special guests on the recent Roxette national tour playing to more than 100,000 people with rave reviews.

Patsan.

STOCKTON BOWLING CLUB: Friday/Saturday/Sunday, Live Music.

STOCKTON RSL: Saturday, Voodoo Rhythm Shakers.

SWANSEA HOTEL: Friday, Mike Horbacz SWANSEA RSL: Saturday, Live Entertainment.

SWANSEA WORKERS CLUB: Saturday, Summerland Kings.

SYDNEY JUNCTION HOTEL: Friday, Hummingbirds, DJ Baltah; Saturday, Hornet, DJ Baltah; Sunday, Steve Edmonds Band.

TELARAH BOWLING CLUB: Friday, Karaoke.

THE POURHOUSE, Maitland: Saturday, Liam Gray.

TILLIGERRY RSL: Thursday, Mick Jones; Friday, Outerphase; Sturday, Ben Woodham.

TORONTO DIGGERS: Friday, Emile; Saturday, Franky and Johnny.

TORONTO HOTEL: Friday, Rock Factor; Sunday, Kev O’Hara.

TORONTO ROYAL MOTOR YACHT CLUB: Sunday, Kelly Hope.

TORONTO WORKERS CLUB: Saturday, Kadence.

WALLARAH BAY REC CLUB: Friday, Cover 2 Cover; Saturday, Soul Station.

WANGI HOTEL: Sunday, Kirsty Larkin.

WANGI RSL: Friday, Live Entertainment.

WANGI WORKERS CLUB: Friday, Entertainment.

WARNERS AT THE BAY: Friday, Grand Theft Audio; Saturday, Overload.

WESTS NEW LAMBTON PIANO LOUNGE: Wedensday, Frank Wakewood; Thursday, Angamus; Friday, Warren Hunter; Saturday, Stuart Hamilton; Monday, Ben Hanley; Tuesday, Terence Koo. WESTS NEW LAMBTON MARBLE BAR: Friday, The Smarts; Saturday, The Gaudreys.

WESTS NEW LAMBTON STARLIGHT ROOM: Wednesday, The Buddy Holly Show.

WEST WALLSEND WORKERS CLUB: Friday, The Steves.

WICKHAM PARK HOTEL: Friday, The Years; Saturday, Dreamcatchers, Phase III; Sunday, The Bad and the Ugly, Mark Wells Band.

WINDALE GATESHEAD BOWLING CLUB: Friday, The Klassics.

WINDSOR CASTLE HOTEL: Friday, 2GoodReasons; Saturday, Holly Wilson.

WYONG BOWLING CLUB: Friday, Change Duo; Saturday, Red Alert.

WYONG LEAGUES CLUB: Friday, The Cover Up; Saturday, The Phoenix.

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the newcastle post » Wednesday 29 April 2015

29.4-5.5.2015

The best gigs in your area!

Wednesday 29 April 2015 « the newcastle post

8

MUSIC

Three decades of quality STEPHEN BISSET

W

endy Matthews may’ve been in the music biz for more than 30 years, but she is just as passionate about performing now than she ever was.

“It’s basically all I’ve ever done since I was 15 years old,” Matthews told TE. “It really has been a lifelong journey for me and one where I’ve never stopped learning.

“It can be both really, really good and also quite frightening in equal parts but it’s just something that I can’t imagine myself not doing - it’s something that’s quite intangible and hard to explain, but it’s definitely there.”

Matthews will be heading our way this weekend to give Novocastrians a taste of her latest album and first set of original tunes since 2001’s Beautiful View, The Welcome Fire.

On her new album Matthews has written songs with a range of top songwriters including Megan Washington and her producer John Castle,

Brisbane - based singer songwriter Mark Sholtez, Gina Jeffrey’s producer and husband Rod McCormack and US singer songwriter Kim Richey and Josh Pyke - the result being an eclectic yet beautifully realised collection of adult contemporary pop that has caused more than one critic to declare the album a career-best.

Matthews said, given the fact that this is the first album where she has had a hand in writing every track, the reception it had been getting since its release was even sweeter.

“I am really happy with the way it has been received,” she said.

“When you’re in that bubble of recording you never really know, but one of the things that comes with age, especially in music, is the ability to not give a crap about what anyone thinks, so for me it was more about getting in there and making the best album that I could.”

With the album still kicking many goals around the traps, the Token Angels and The Day You Went Away singer said she was now looking toward the next project.

“It’s funny because after talking to you about original music, my next project is

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going to be an EP of Billy Holiday songs that is due for release sometime this year which I’ll also be taking out on the road.

It’s been such fun working on those songs

and also quite a challenge, but challenging yourself is what it’s all about.”

Catch Wendy Matthews at Lizotte’s on Friday, May 1.

this week

the newcastle post » Wednesday 29 April 2015

wgbc

WHAT'S ON GALLERIES Art Systems Wickham: of mist and illusion by Shelagh Lummis until May 3 Back to Back Galleries: Small: fraternity, futility and hope group exhibition until May 3 Cooks Hill Galleries: New faces - Surreal Good Art by Gillie & Marc, Robbie Robertson, Andrew Bennett, Yulia Pustoshkina until May 11 cstudios Art Gallery: Christopher Steele Bellevue room, Fred Herbert and Geoffrey Breen -Hunter room until May 3 Curve gallery: WIND: shear by Joanna O’Toole until May 3 Diamant Artspace: New work during April Forsight Gallery: Unititled by Ben Kenning until May 3 four point gallery: Insightful by Cheridan Chard until May 3 Gallery 139: Sculptured OUT: group exhibition) until May 9 Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery: (in)visible: the First Peoples and War until May 17 Lock Up Cultural Centre: A second shadow, prelude and trail until May 3 Lovett Gallery: ANZAC Illustrated until May 2 Maitland Regional Art Gallery: Just Paper: On Paper: The Maitland Wonder: Les Darcy until June 12; Just Paper: On the make: A Collec-

9

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tion and Just Paper: The piano man has been drinking (not me) until June 21 NANA contemporary art space: Newcastle School of Art Group Show by First Year students until May 6 Nanshe studio gallery: 3rd Birthday Show (image: Ahn Wells The Passages of Time 2015) until May 30 Newcastle Art Gallery: Capital and Country: the Federation Years 1900 - 1914 until May 31 Newcastle Art Space: Identity by PODspace Pop Up exhibition until May 3 Timeless Textiles: Mark Making by Margaret Adam until May 3 University Gallery: Grant Vercoe and Louise McAlpine until May 2 All listed exhibitions are on now or starting week Monday, April 27

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Wednesday 29 April 2015 « the newcastle post

10

Classics done right STEPHEN BISSET

W

Mayfield Hotel Bistro 284 Maitland Rd, Mayfield 4960 1397

ith pub bistros increasingly “fancying- up” their menus, sometimes at the expense of good, honest flavour, it’s refreshing to see that the focus at the Mayfield Hotel Bistro is serving up classic pub grub done right.

While there are some modern flourishes to be found on this menu - the Waygu beef burger with bacon, cheese, mesculin greens, house-made-BBQ sauce and aoli, for example, the old favourites - steak and chips (New York, rump or scotch fillet),

fish of the day and the humble chicken schnitzel are well represented here.

My dining partner and I kicked off proceedings with some crusty herb and garlic sourdough and, what an appetite starter! The rustic and perfectly toasted sourdough was bursting with flavour, yet the herbs and garlic were perfectly balanced.

For main, my dining partner went for the perennial pub favourite - the 300- gram scotch fillet with mushroom sauce and, again, it was a case of perfecting the classics.

Initially this looked like any standard steak, chips and salad. However this was

one great bit of meat, perfectly matched with the rich and earthy flavours from the deliciously creamy mushroom sauce.

The scotch fillet was so very tender, treated respectfully and cooked to mouth- watering medium- rare perfection. It was also charred nicely on the outside , which only enhanced this cut of steak, while a subtle hint of hickory BBQ smokey sweetness brought the whole dish together. A heathy portion of golden brown, crisp chips, with a subtle hint of spice and a fresh garden salad were a nice surprise.

With seemingly every second pub in town serving up their version of a chicken schnitzel they can tend to blend into one another - but this one was a definite standout. A deliciously crispy crumb with no hint of oiliness enveloped a perfectly cooked and well-flattened chicken breast while the addition of the lightly spiced chips and fresh and zesty salad topped it all off nicely.

While this schnitzel could only be described as massive, on Wednesday and Friday nights, the bistro offers up what they call the ‘mega’ schnitzel and if it’s half as delicious as the regular schnitzel, the mega version promised to be a gastronomic delight.

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What’s on at Ducks Crossing Cottage Cuisine

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11

MUSIC

the newcastle post » Wednesday 29 April 2015

Vote for who?

Holly Who, that’s who STEPHEN BISSET

H

olly Who need your help.

The beguiling Newcastle pop - rock five - piece are in the running to snag a coveted support slot with the Baby Animals and the Superjesus at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney for two shows next month and need as many votes as humanly possible to tip them over the edge.

The competition, facilitated by She Who Rocks, will see one local band open the show at each gig on the national tour, with Holly Who being the only Novocastrian band competing in the national comp.

“It’s going really well,” vocalist Holly Clayton told TE. “When it started, we were in thirty-sixth place and now were sitting at something like number seven so we may just do it.”

Clayton added that the support slot would

be a huge foot in the door for Holly Who. “It’s hard to sum up what an opportunity like this could mean for a band like us,” she said.

“We’re the underdogs, that little band from Newcastle up against the big Sydney bands. It almost stopped us applying but we’re Novocastrians, we didn’t grow up like that. My Dad was a boxer and I grew up on Rocky films - in hindsight, it was wonderful parenting.”

So what last minute words of encouragement does Clayton have for any potential last minute voters?

“Just get in and do it,” she laughed.

“The fact is, Novocastrians love an underdog and they also like things for free, well, we’re an underdog and it’s completely free to vote so, why not?”

Aside from all of the competition fervour, it’s shaping up to be a pretty busy next little while for Holly Who, who are due to release their latest single Gimmie Gimmie on May 23.

“It’s a really fun, classic 70s style rock and roll tune, with maybe a little bit of Fleetwood Mac thrown in,” Clayton said of the track.

“We weren’t really sure what song was going to be the next single but we’d played it a few times and we found that, by around the third chorus, people were singing along so it seemed like a good choice.”

“small enough to care, large enough to entertain” Entertainment Sunday 3 May from 10.30am

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The band will be recording the track live, as well as filming at the Underground at the Grand Hotel on May 24.

“I am so nervous about that,’ Clayton said.

“Just knowing that you have to get through it without stuffing it up is quite nerve wracking, but you just have to do it.”

To cast your vote head over to facebook. com/hollywhomusic or www.hollywhomusic.com. Voting closes on Friday, May 1.

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Wednesday 29 April 2015 « the newcastle post

12

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT

reeFOOT BOWL FBARE

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All roads lead to Karuah

WEDNESDAY $10 STEAK NIGHT

N

ow in its seventh year, the Lost Highway Karuah Bluegrass Festival has built up a reputation as the place to witness some of best bluegrass talent on offer, and this year promises to be no different.

This year’s incarnation will be a bumper event with the cream of Australian bluegrass, original acoustic and country swing, headlined by Newcastle’s own Golden Guitar nominee Bob Corbett (pictured) whose latest album Roovolution is going absolute great guns, New Zealand’s hardest working acoustic band the Eastern, American radio hit makers the Stetson Family, talented sister act Siskin River and bluegrass stalwarts from WA, Bluegrass Parkway.

The mission of the Lost Highway festival is to create a festival where musicians, residents and music lovers

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can gather to enjoy acoustic music, share ideas, learn new music skills and enjoy a weekend of performances in a beautiful setting. This year’s festival builds upon this idea with the inclusion of a “Pickers’ Paradise” late night intimate venue, where audiences get up close and personal with the bands and can join in with the late night jam sessions. Saturday is always a big day at the Lost Highway festival with all the major artists appearing on the main stage. Sunday holds some surprises, with the already very popular Bluegrass Gospel Show hosted by Gleny Rae Virus, followed by an all star showcase of Skyhooks songs, all performed in the bluegrass style.

The Lost Highway Karuah Bluegrass Festival will be on from Friday, May 1 to Sunday, May 3. For more info, visit karuahbluegrassmusicfestival.com.

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Stay a while with Morgan Bain

BOWLING CLUB

LIVE

STEPHEN BISSET

W

ith four EPs under his belt and a deft turn of phrase, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Perth songwriter Morgan Bain is much older than his 20 years.

Having recently picked up a WA Music (WAM) song of the year gong for his track Hold On, as well as a semi-finalist nod in the international songwriting competition and a finalist slot in the John Lennon songwriting contest, Bain is out on the road again, this time promoting his latest single, Why Don’t You Stay - a song Bain said represented quite a big stylistic shift.

“This is the new single off my soonto- be- released album and it really explains where I’m at musically now,” he explained.

“The other stuff, like the first EP [Another Day] was quite blues and roots oriented, the second one [self titled] was more pop rock, the last one [What You Believe] was a bit more soul oriented and the new track is quite dark and moody.

“The song is about anxieties that come with giving your everything to someone and how to not let those anxious thoughts take over and get in the way of how you really feel.”

Despite being just 20 years of age,

T N E M N I A T ENTER Bain said that he had evolved quite substantially as an artist since releasing his Another Day EP as a burgeoning 15-year-old songwriter.

“I’ve definitely evolved a lot since then,” he said.

“In that time I’ve written all kinds of stuff, from country to pop to rock - it’s just great to experience writing in as many genres as possible.”

Catch Morgan Bain at the Lass O’Gowrie on Saturday, May 9 and at the Grand Junction Hotel on Friday, May 15.

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13 the newcastle post » Wednesday 29 April 2015

REDHEAD

MUSIC

14 Wednesday 29 April 2015 « the newcastle post

MOVIE REVIEWS Avengers: Age of Ultron [Rated M] EVENT CINEMAS, GLENDALE STEPHEN BISSET [3/5]

It was always going to be a tough ask for writer/director Joss Whedon to replicate the comic book fan boy fever dream brilliance that was the first Avengers flick. While he has given us a perfectly serviceable action hero flick, with oodles of jaw dropping set pieces, this time around it feels like more of the same.

After we become reacquainted with the Avengers team - Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Black Widow, Captain America and Hawkeye - midway through a high-octane mission, in one of the most memorable opening scenes in recent memory, things quickly go awry for the team as Tony Stark tries to kickstart a dormant program designed to ensure the world’s safety.

As is the case with these things, instead of going according to plan, Stark inadvertently creates Ultron - a malevolent force hell-bent on ushering in the earth’s destruction.

Given that the Marvel universe has tended to go for a much less

lighthearted oeuvre in recent times (Netflix’s brilliant Daredevil is a perfect example), many of Whedon’s one-liners and asides - particularly from Ultron - seem dated and hackneyed. Ultron, voiced quite expertly by James Spader, with his half-hearted quips and ‘boom-tish’ one-liners comes across more as a Saturday morning cartoon villain than a baddie that would strike fear into the hearts of earth’s bravest heroes.

That is not to say that this is a bad film - far from it. Put this up against any of the other Marvel flicks (Iron Man, Thor, et al) and they pale in comparison. It just feels like, this time around, much of the heart and soul that made the first outing so great was sorely lacking. Further, given the plethora of films in this franchise now it could also be a case of overfamiliarity breeding contempt however, it was refreshing to see Hawkeye and Black Widow, who were given short shrift last time around, get a lot more screentime.

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15 the newcastle post » Wednesday 29 April 2015

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